I Tried a Norwegian Lifestyle for a Day

After researching during my time in Tromsø, I put together a list of what could be considered a typical day in the life of a Norwegian. I wanted to see what it might be like to live here. I adopt some essential practices like kos and friluftsliv, taste reindeer for the first time and of course explore some new places and ways of doing things.
Most used resources:
🔎www.nationalgeographic.com/cu...
🔎www.lifeinnorway.net/norwegia...
🔎www.visitnorway.com/typically...
🔎www.scandinaviastandard.com/s...
🔎www.visitnorway.com/things-to...
🔎www.tekna.no/en/career/a-care...
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[@ThorbjrnPrytz]

the thing about "kos" is the act of enjoying and relaxing. What you do is not important, it is about taking the time out to relax, lower your shoulders, take some calming breaths and do something you enjoy for a while. Take an hour to sit down, under a blanket, and read a book while sipping slowly on your favorite tea. Whatever YOU need and want to calm down, and breathe easier!

[@ThorbjrnPrytz]

Oh, and did you get too see the cathedral while you were there? It is stunning archetecture!

[@NatashaBergen]

Love this! You’ve described it so nicely, thank you! 😄 Yes for me it’s usually just being out in nature ☺️ I did see the cathedral! Incredible! It’ll come up in a future video 😁

[@perolden]

About lunchtime: Lunch is normally 30 minutes starting from 11 to 1230. Of course if you start work at 6 or 7, you are more than halfway through your workday by 1030, so some start then. At the office I used to work, most started at 7.30, and lunch started at 11, -3,5 hours into the workday, which is 7,5 hours long. We have 37,5 hours workweek. Yes dinners in my home was usually at 16.15, and we had an evening meal, mostly depending on our after work activities between 1930 and 2100. Breakfast would then be anything from 5.30 to 7.30 , our breakfasts and lunches are pretty simple, 2 slices of bread for breakfast, usually with a slice of ham and cheese, same thing for lunch. Evening meal could be anything. In other areas of Norway they have other ways and other times.

[@PUTDEVICE]

think a normal working day in Scandinavia consists of either breakfast before going to work or when there is a breakfast break at 9 o'clock. then it's lunch at about 12. then an afternoon break like a coffee. then it's dinner when you get home at 5-6pm.

[@ahkkariq7406]

It might have helped to have some protein-rich toppings on the slice of bread for breakfast, but since most Norwegians eat the same for lunch as for breakfast (slices of bread with toppings) it is a good thing that we are hungry for lunch. We have this saying in Norway: Hunger is the best cook.

[@stianh.4587]

You did kos/hygge wrong. What you should have done was make a fire in the fireplace, get under a blanket (not a duvet) and enjoy some salty or sugary snacks while reading a book/listening to the radio/watching TV. Slow TV is something that is better for multitasking situations, in my opinion. It's more of a background thing than something to be actively watched.

[@NatashaBergen]

Interesting, didn’t know I could do it wrong 😂 I’ll try better next time 😜

[@ahkkariq7406]

There are probably some old people who watch Slow TV, but most people knit, crochet or do other crafts while they watch.

[@larsyvindgrindrud8341]

When it comes to coffee and it is interesting to note that in Finland they drink more coffee than anywhere in the world and guess which country is No 2: Norway.

[@NatashaBergen]

Oooo yes interesting isn’t it? Funny coincidence or I wonder if there’s a deeper reason 😯

[@notsonominal]

.. Norwegian lifestyle and immediately heads to a Swedish bakery chain:D

[@CadElectri]

Backstube is actually a Norwegian/German concept. Started by the two Germans Matthias Bresser and Richard Felix Heinrich.

[@notsonominal]

my bad! (edit: .. or .. main agenda was viewer engagement, so I guess success in any case:P)

[@NatashaBergen]

And drinks Finnish coffee after lunch 😝🙈

[@notsonominal]

@@NatashaBergen haha; yeah! Good point - and more viewer engagement;)

[@michael7054]

Great video! Id like to try that Norwegian chocolate bars if i went to Norway someday even if just out of curiosity. Norway is definitely a very pretty and scenic country. I enjoyed watching this! Im looking forward to the next video!

[@NatashaBergen]

Oooo yes the chocolate bar is so yummy! I’m sure you’d like it 😄

[@michael7054]

@NatashaBergen Yeah I think so too! Thanks!!!

[@Luredreier]

Is chocolate bar the right word? It's not chocolate all the way through. It's essentially a bar of a crunchy almost like "waffle" with chocolate around it. I don't know if that's the right word... Never ever say this in Norway, but it's arguably quite similar to KitKat, but of course *way* better. (Calling it a KitKat might get you placed on a kill list though, just saying)

[@michael7054]

@Luredreier oh ok. So its like a kit kat. But don't ever call it a Kit kat in Norway. Got it. Thanks so much! Thanks so much for the explanation! They sound really good!

[@Luredreier]

​​@@michael7054 Don't say "like KitKat" either. Norwegian chocolate tradition decends from Swizz chocolate tradition. So it's arguably up there with the Swizz and Belgian chocolate in quality (although I'd say Kvikklunsj isn't our best *chocolate*, if you look at just the chocolate itself rather then the whole package) But yeah, if you want quality chocolate try north Italia premium chocolate, pretty much all Swizz chocolate, pretty much all Belgian chocolate, and all but the worst of Norwegian chocolate. If you're American I'm sorry to say that American chocolate has a reputation for not being particularly good. That said budget chocolates in most of Europe is also a bit low quality.

[@torrust]

I grant an A for commitment. 'Friluftsliv' to me is not enough to sleep at a hotel and go outdoor, it's when I leave civilization, hike, kayak, ski, climb, ... and sleep outdoor in snow cave, igloo, tent ... having room and bed for the night, that is cheating. I may give a pass for spending full day outdoor and then sleep at an off-grid cabin during a snow storm. When it comes to the 'Kos' concept, it's more of a personal preference on how we enjoy to chill. For me this is strongly connected to cottage life with family. After a full day out, come back to cottage, put on dry cloths, have warm shelter, have dinner, then we socialize, stories, jokes etc. It can also be when having a bonfire by sea during sunset, chilling with friends, having a beer, telling stories, laughing, ...

[@ouilegdsart]

Actually most people living in Europe are indigenous to Europe ;D And there had been people living in northern Scandinavia for many thousand years before the Sami arrived.

[@ahkkariq7406]

Sami ethnicity arose on the spot, as a fusion between those who lived there before and those who moved in. It is confirmed by both archaeological, linguistic and genetic findings. Sami and Norwegians share more than 90% DNA, so the Stone Age people are very much part of the Sami people, as well as part of the Norwegian people. In fact, large parts of the language spoken by the Stone Age people throughout the country are preserved in Sami, which contains a large proportion of unknown origin. Linguists believe that these are remnants of languages ​​that were spoken in the Paleo-European area. Remnants of the language (languages?) are also preserved in Norwegian, but to a much lesser extent than in Sami. Norwegian is an Indo-European language that came with immigrants and replaced the language of the Stone Age people. Archaeological findings confirm continuity from the oldest finds to today's Sami culture. When the Sami are considered an indigenous population, it is a political term used for people who were present when the state was formed, and who do not have their own country. If Norwegians continue to give away the land to immigrants at the same time as they give birth to fewer children than the immigrants and their descendants, and there is therefore in the future another culture that rules the country, and which is not Norwegian, Norwegians will be given the political status of indigenous people if it still exist. So you are spreading a false myth, and for some reason there is ALWAYS someone who makes this claim every time a KZbinr mentions the Sami as an indigenous people. Why? Is it because Norwegians are afraid that the Sami will take over the country? In that case, you have nothing to fear because the number of the Samis is so small that it will never outcompete Norwegians.

[@ouilegdsart]

@@ahkkariq7406 Sami cultural remnants can be traced back to southern Finland 2000 years before it ever showed up in northern scandinavia. And DNA tests tell the same tale. But obviously by now they have blended into the real indigenous scandinavian population. The fact that you need to come up with a new meaning of "indigenous" doesn't really change anything. All I want is equal rights for everyone living here. I don't know why that is so bad.

[@ahkkariq7406]

@@ouilegdsart Archaeological finds on the coast of northern Norway show continuity from the oldest finds (approx. 10 000 years) to today's Sami culture. What you are doing wrong is to limit the term Sami to the small group of immigrants from the east. They were not Sami. They became part of what we today define as Sami when they merged with the people who lived on the site before. Their language was not Sami either. It contained parts of what is today Sami.

[@ouilegdsart]

@@ahkkariq7406 This is just modern revisionism used by sami to defend their juridical exceptional position. The sami claim to the north is not stronger than the ones of norwiegans, swedes and finns. We all deserve the same rights.

[@Music_Lingo]

The best content!

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

If you are in Norway and want to swatch some slow -TV , I recommans 'Hurtigruten' ( 2010) or 'Svalbard'(2020)

[@SharmanSomerset]

Magical Natasha, it’s still my dream to move to Norway and it was your trip to Bergen that switched me onto your wonderful channel, big love to you x

[@NatashaBergen]

Awe I love to hear that and I really hope you can make your dream happen 🤩

[@SharmanSomerset]

@@NatashaBergen One day hopefully, then you and JP will have a crash pad anytime you need one! Hope life is treating you well, sending lots of love to you x

[@hazel_kitt]

Nice vlog ☺️✨

[@NatashaBergen]

Thank you 😊

[@ChiliConCarnage]

As a Norwegian, I don't think I know anyone who actually commits to sitting down to watch "slow tv". It's more something to have on in the background while reading, cooking food, taking a nap or whatever.

[@younggunpark]

Norwegian life sounds lovely! It was funny that you seemed so cheerful and energetic outdoor, then you had to sit and watch videos of outdoor and you seemed so sad. XD

[@josteingravvik2381]

Nice video Natasha !!!

[@NatashaBergen]

Happy to hear you liked it! 😁

[@josteingravvik2381]

@@NatashaBergen 😁 Maybe you could come back and try it in the summer?? 😁

[@jmolofsson]

Greetings from the Canary Islands! Tromsø is nice (half of the year!). Food, however, isn't the most tempting part of visiting, or immigrating to, Norway. There are some exceptions, though, but they are typically expensive, sometimes *_very_* expensive, restaurants. Personally, I very much like the food on the Hurtigruten ferries to and from Tromsø. (When I can afford it, that is.) Regarding slow TV, ...it's actually something I like to do when I need to unwind, or can't sleep or something. I watch long videos on KZbin taken from train driver's cabs. I love comparing how a railway line looks in different seasons. However, Norwegian train lines are not the very best, as many of them have far too many, and long, tunnels. And the tunnels are very boring. Nice video!

[@coconutfleetsleeper5717]

Tromsö?😊❤

[@NatashaBergen]

Ooooo nice!! 50 points 🥳🤩

[@Tunanette]

Svalbard minutt for minutt 🙌 recommend 🤩🐻‍❄️

[@CryptoRoast_0]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="388">6:28</a> might be the most Canadian I've ever heard you sound 😂😁👌

[@NatashaBergen]

😂😂😂

[@rickhiggins]

I'm with you on the Slow TV thing. I'm actually trying to curb my screen time (ahem: he says after watching your video). I think I'd rather connect with humans in the flesh rather than snuggle with a flat screen. Although ... that little critter was pretty damn cute. 🙂

[@NatashaBergen]

Yeah it’s an interesting pass time eh? Glad you stopped by to watch 😉 What didn’t make into the video was reading the comments on the slow tv KZbin vids. I found it was lovely that a lot of people used it to decompress or relieve stress - never would’ve guessed ☺️

[@omlg4svector]

Norwegian day is bread and coffee for breakfast. Bread and coffee for lunch, Some protein together with potatoes and coffee for dinner. And bread and coffee for an evening snack.

[@NatashaBergen]

Ooooo sound yum! The bread there is so good!

[@TravellingTorunn]

We normally don't have coffee for dinner though. And very rarely for supper.

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

that wasn't a typical breakfast. Usually we have choices between oatmeal, cheese, makrell i tomat, red peppers/ paprika and cucumber , meat topping and laks.

[@NatashaBergen]

Cool, thanks for letting me know Bianka. Happy adventures and breakfast 😜

[@zhukov43]

I don’t have the balance for skiing, does look like a good workout though, great video as always, thank you for making them.

[@NatashaBergen]

I feel you on that, it’s not easy eh 😅 I’m glad you like the vid 😁

[@ahkkariq7406]

Since Norwegians are so much out in nature from a young age, a good balance is built up that comes in handy when learning to ski and practicing skiing.

[@SinaFarhat]

nice! We have the Swedish version of slow tv, "Den stora älgvandringen" or "the great elk migration" where you can in real time watch elk go from point a to b and catch yourself saying to your screen "junp in and swim over to the other side"! Norway does have blood sausage so it wouldn't surprise me there would also be a side sauce made out of blood. Nice to see that norway also serves sweet sauce with salty meat, just like our Swedish meatbals, mashed potatoes and lingonberry. If I understand your timeline correctly your next video should be more springy since you were in norway during apriil.

[@peacefulminimalist2028]

I was as surprised as her, never seen blueberry (or blood for that matter) with reindeer, it's always tyttebær or lingonberry as you say in Sweden. I guess we have blood pancakes or blood sausage, but personally I've never tasted it as it's not very common (maybe more a generation or two ago).

[@TheBergmark]

Please for heavens sake! Stop translate älg to elk! It is moose! Elk is a completely different animal and nothing like the moose!

[@elinmoftedal]

We have no sause made of blood. What do you think we are? Barbaric Vikings 😂

[@ahkkariq7406]

@@elinmoftedal Exactly. And as a Sea Sami, I'm pretty sure that the Sami don't have any sauce of blood either (since she was in Tromsø). Blood is used in the cooking of some dishes both among the Sami and Norwegians - as in Sweden.

[@elinmoftedal]

@@ahkkariq7406 i was just having fun 😉☺️

[@Luredreier]

End of video comment: I'm really impressed with your effort, and I really appreciate it, but some of the things you didn't like where things you did wrong. Watch the rest of the comment for details. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="157">2:37</a> Our breakfasts are *slightly* fancier. Like having some paprika or ham or something on top of the butter. Often some cheese too. But yeah, two slices of bread and coffee or milk is pretty accurate for a Norwegian breakfast. End of video edit: Basically topping should be protein, fat and some other nutrients like vitamins, while the bread provides carbohydrates, especially starches that together with the fat helps you keep going through the day. Also, your body adapts to what you give it, if you don't give it tooo much during the day it'll cut down on what it uses too. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="198">3:18</a> Don't worry, you nailed it. :-) <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="277">4:37</a> When you combine outdoor activity with the cold we do tend to add a little bit of snack. Think nuts, raisins and perhaps a little bit of butter or chocolate or both. It's not intended as a full meal but to add energy when pushing yourself in the cold. You just add a little bit over time as you feel like you need it. It's not intended to fill you as much as just keep you going. Also, remember that we typically have four meals a day, so we still have some remains of our evening meal in our stomach when eating breakfast. And while two slices of bread is typical if you expect a lot of physical activity adding a third slice or eating some porridge isn't unheard of. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="405">6:45</a> That's *not* a typical Norwegian lunch. Warm porridge might be a thing for breakfast if you expect a lot of activity. But for lunch we're talking bread with butter and a topping again. Between 2 and 4 slices depending on expected activity level. Often two different toppings, so one or two slices with one topping and one or two with another. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="852">14:12</a> Yeah, you're not supposed to browse for nature videos, slow TV is something made *for* you. Also, your facial expression clearly shows that this does *not* qualify as "kos" for you. So, yes, you where doing it wrong. Not because sitting down and watching slow TV *can't* be kos, sometimes a couple of people might sit down in front of a slow TV broadcast and just small talk while enjoying it, drinking something hot, perhaps snacking a little bit, perhaps knitting. Does that make sense? You don't just sit alone and watch random KZbin videos of nature while feeling miserable... <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="892">14:52</a> Well, you did our meals totally wrong, so I'm not surprised that it didn't work for you. Start with a small evening meal the day before, perhaps two slices of bread, and don't have your dinner too late so you're full by evening meal time. Then have something on top of the bread other then just butter. You should have proteins and fat for the toppings while the bread provides carbohydrates. And for lunch you just do bread with toppings again. *Then* a hearty dinner, before a light evening meal. Some extra snack on trips and weekend evenings is permitted.

[@NatashaBergen]

I appreciate the effort that went into the comment! It's great to see how passionate you are! Happy adventures!

[@Luredreier]

​@@NatashaBergen Thank you. 😊 I'm sorry if I'm coming across too negative here. Just trying to help. Other then those things your video was actually pretty spot on.

[@KjetilBalstad]

You were in Drammen I believe. What can I do with all those points?

[@hwplugburz]

Lovely video 😊👍 (wish I was there with you) I think your in Tromsø I acuualy had 2 friends with the sir-name Solgaard when I was a child. (and its not a common name). One of them, the sister, Actualy moved to Canada when she was like 20.. 🤔 (back in around 1991 i think) Now I wonder if she ended up with a company making backpacks.. 🤔 That would be so cool :) ( I am on No other social media then YT, so I dont know what happend to childhood friends..)

[@NatashaBergen]

Nice one! 50 points for you 😝 That’s so interesting! I wonder if it’s the same people?! Small world 😄

[@gozamite]

Hmm... You skipped The Halti video?? I guess it's still coming? But anyway Norway is super beautiful and I don't mind at all...

[@NatashaBergen]

Halti is next 🤩 Starting on the edit tomorrow 😄

[@eivetjafrasenja]

Are you in Tromsø?

[@NatashaBergen]

Niiiiice 50 points!! 🥳

[@Dougie-]

9-17 is for slackers 😛 6-14, or at least 7-15, and your days get so much longer ;)

[@NatashaBergen]

Hahaha I get that!

[@KimmeU]

You have to eat an good breakfast. At least untill your full and alot of coffee...

[@NatashaBergen]

Right? Absolutely necessary 😊

[@mads5000]

50 points to me😁 Tromsø

[@NatashaBergen]

Ooooo yes! 🙌

[@mads5000]

🙀🙀🙀WTH your in my town

[@mads5000]

You visited my fjord, I saw my house❤ I wish I knew you was here, I would have loved to say hi😁

[@NatashaBergen]

Whaaaaat no way!! That would’ve been so cool 🤩

[@natiashavladze3634]

🩷🤍🩷🤍🩷🤍🩷

[@mandurilravenous5324]

*SPOILER* at 2 minutes in, I instantly thought " TROMSØ ! " weeeee =D *SPOILER*

[@bjornbear6856]

I am so sorry, but WTF did you pour on top of your pasta lunch sallad??? Catfood?😮😲🥴 😅😁😄 It surely looked like it!!🤔😜 (Now you said that you normaly don't eat meat, and that is your choice of course to make. I've also tried that, but I've recently taken a new path in my life when it comes to eating, due to not feeling all that good. I went to a guy, that specializes in reading your bodys mineral and vitamine levels (and alot more, I will tell you all about it sometime) and according to him, your body needs everything. Otherwise you will get in trouble. You should eat every color there is when it comes to fruit and vegetables, fat fish(NO farmed fish) and unprocessed meat. Now this is a jungle and I won't get deeper in to this stuff but if you are interested in talking about this topic sometime, I'm here. I am still learning about this though so... I'm no expert.) OMG! I love breakfast!!! I LOVE IT!!! I have a really hard time understanding people thar skip breakfast???? Your body NEEDS fuel! At least I do and I'm a breakfast Jedi master! As always a fantastic video Natasha! Keep going! I will follow... Be safe

[@NatashaBergen]

It was totally cat food, it’s my secret to climbing mountains 😂 It was beyond meat, a plant based food that I normally use for my burgers. I had one patty left to eat before I flew out the next day. I’m glad you found a guy who can help you with your nutrition 🙌 That’s key! I couldn’t agree more!

[@bjornbear6856]

@@NatashaBergen Just be careful with the cat food cans... you know what happens when you drop it!😁😂🤣